Warning device for barbed fences



0.H.BAGON. WARNING DEVIQE FORIBARBED FENCES.

(N 0 Model.)

No. 297,487; Pa-tented'Apr. 2 2, 1884.

Inventor (Rites-t UNrrnn STATES CHARLES H. BACON, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.

WARNING DEVICE FOR BARBED-FENCES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 297,487, dated April22, 1884.

Application filed August 11, 1883. (No-model.) I

To 60% whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES H. BACON, of Springfield, county of Clark,State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in BarbedFences, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object to provide barbed fences with devicesthat not only serve as visible signals to warn animals, but also asprojecting guards to prevent an animalrunningorpassingsidewisealongthefencefrom be ing seriously injured orlacerated by the barbs, such combined signals and guards being visiblefrom all avenues of approach, and permit- I 5 ting the barbs to performtheir usual function should a direct attempt be made by an animal tobreak the fence.

The object of my invention I accomplish in the manner and by the meanshereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an elevation of a portion ofa barbedwire fence with my invention applied thereto, one of the signalsand guards being in elevation and the other in section; Fig. 2, asectional view of one of the signals and guards, showing a modificationof the invention. Fig. 3 is an elevation showing another modification;and Figs. 4 and 5, elevations of part of a barbed fence on a reducedscale, showing my invention applied thereto.

Referring to the drawings, a indicates a strand of a barbed-wire fence,I) the barbs providcd thereon, and c the combined visible signals andguards, each of which is of the form of a sphere, with the exteriorsurface perfectly smooth or plain, and diametrically mounted on the wirestrand (1, for which purpose the sphere is provided with anaxial orificeor opening through which the wire strand is passed. The spheres are eachmade of two equal halves, although they may be constructed from a solidblock and of any desired geometrical external form; and in Fig. 1 thesehemispheres are provided on their flat surfaces with diametricalchannels in which the strand of the fence is arranged, such channelsbeing of such depth that the two halves of the hemisphere can be broughtinto contact to 50 complete the spherical body, in which position theyare secured or tied by a staple, d,

passing through perforations in the hemispheres and clinched at its freeends d, Fig. 1.

In Fig. 2 the spherical body is composed of two concavo-convex diskshaving their edges constructed to be interlocked by springing themtogether, so as to confine the barbedfence strand in the diametricalorifices formed by recessesin the edges of the disks. In Fig. 3 thesphere is in a single piece, with a radial slot, 2, in the bottom ofwhich slot the barbedfence strand is confined by an axial pin, f,- butinstead of this pin I can use a wedge or a wire, if desired. In allcases the spherical signals and guards are diametrically hungon thefence-strand between the barbs 1), whereby such spheres project in everydirection radially from the strand, and the surface of the spheres,being'smooth or plain, cannot tear, lacerate, or seriously injure ananimal coming against the same. It will be evident that the spheresserve as a warning to an animal, no matter in which direction it ap proaches,while the smooth or plain surface projecting outward beyond thelength or extent of the barbs, it will be seen that if an animal runs orpasses sidewise along the fence the spheres act as guards to the barbsand prevent the latter from tearing or lacerating the animal.

By making the'visibl'e signals and' guards in two halves orsections,they can be easily manufactured from sheet metal, if desired, and noprojecting points will exist to injure an animal.

The spheres, being visible from all avenues of approach, greatly lessenthe danger of an animals coming unexpectedly upon the fence and beinginjured by the barbs; but if a direct attempt is made to break the fencethe barbs are in position to perform their usual function.

By my invention I provide very simple and efficient means to prevent ananimal from rubbing sidewise against the barbs, and at the sametimepresent to the animal a visible signal locating the position of thefence.

Heretofore barbed-wire fences have been provided with a plate of thinflexible material, having one end bent around a strengthening-bar andinclosing the wire strands; but while such a device forms an indicatorof the location of the fence, there is nothing to prevent an animal frombeing seriously injured .provided with barbs in the shape of oval or orlacerated by the barbs when passing sidewise along the fence or rubbingsidewise against the same. A wirefence has also been egg-shaped burrs,from the surface of which project spikes or points, such burrs havinglongitudinal orifices, so that they can be strung on the wire, orlongitudinal grooves in their opposite sides for receiving the wires;but obviously such a device would defeat the very object of myinvention.

It will be perceived from the foregoing that the aforesaid visiblesignals and guards are capable of being turned on their axes or supportswhen an animal comes in contact with the same, by which meansdisfiguring of the barbwire or displacement from the barb-wire of thevisible guards and signals is to a great extent avoided. It will also beperceived that the visible guards and signals are capable ol' havingimparted to them a longitudinal or shitting movement on the ba-rb-wirewhen pressure or contact is applied to or brought upon them by an animalmoving or prancing along in the direction in which the fence ex tends,and that the barbs on the fence limit the travel or movement of thevisible guards and signals. If some provision or means were not presenton the wire to limit the longitudinal movement oi the visible guards andnals,the same would be liable to nest or collect at one or the otherends of the wire adjacent to the posts which support the wire strands orcable employed, owing to the action 01. wind or to caprices ofindividuals.

gnal'guardsluwe been scaled between two twisted strands of wirecomposing a wire fence, each wire being seated in a groove formed on theexternal surface of the signal; but such a construction is not claimedby me, for the: valuable results provided for by my invention ofallowing the turning and the longitudinal or shifting movement of thevisible signals guards upon their supporting wire or wires The inor f orstringers could not be effected.

vention, without any alteration, is applicable to fences already inposition.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. The combination,with the strand of a fence having barbs thereon, of the combined signalsand guards axially mounted on the strand: and free to turn thereon, andhaving smooth or plain surfaces projecting outward beyond the barbs, toprevent the latter from tearing or lacerating an animal rubbing ormoving sidcwise against the fence, substantially as described.

The combination, with the strand of a fence, of signals and guardsloosely and axially hung on the strand, said signals or guardsconstructed and located to have a free longitudinal or shifting movementimparted to them on their axial support, with means on the strand tolimit the longitudinal or shifting motion of the said signals andguards, substantially as described.

The combination, with the strand of a fence having barbs thereon, of acombined signal and guard composed of two sections and means forconnecting the sections, said signal and guard being hung on the strandand pro vided with smooth or plain surfaces projecting outward beyondthe points of the barbs, substantially as described.

l. The combination, with the strand of a fence having barbs thereon, ofspherical signals and guards axially hung on the strand, and havingsmooth or plain surfaces projecting outward beyond the points of thebarbs, said spheres each comprising two halves, and means for unitingthem, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 8th day of August,1883.

CHARLES H. BACON.

\Vitn esses:

HENRY, MILL wiinn, Anorrn BAKHAUS.

